Monday, December 30, 2013

Just Thinking



What does the victorious life in Christ look like?

How does that effect
What I do
                                Say
                                        Think
                                                Feel
                                                        Respond

When dealing with challenging people and circumstances how does the Lord want me to respond?  I’m not sure I know the answer…but I do know that I sure don’t feel like I’m handling it like I should. 

Lord…I need Your wisdom to guide me.  Your Holy Spirit to put a guard over my mouth.  Draw me to You, to bring everything to you in prayer so I can receive wise counsel, comfort, strengthening, encouragement or woodshed time when needed.

Help me to keep my eyes and focus on You and Your Word.  May I be sensitive to Your Holy Spirit.  Thank You Lord for always hearing me and being my ever present help in times of trouble. 

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sunday Morn Take Away 12/29/13




When going to church on Sunday morning, I bring my Bible and a notebook to jot down things that our Pastor Philip De Courcy says during his sermon.  When the notebook is filled it goes on the shelf, seldom to be opened again. 

For a while now…I’ve been thinking that perhaps I need to have a more record of what I’m taking away from our Sunday morning service.  This won’t be a recap…more likely bullet points.  A place for me to record what the Lord is saying through the study of His Word. 

Today we studied Psalm 46.

God the Refuge of His People and Conqueror of the Nations
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth.

46 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah
There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God,
The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.
The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah
Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

Noah Webster Quote…God can save by many or by few…  Their greatest weapon was their faith in God.

Psalm 46 is a celebration for what God does for those who trust Him.
Even in the face of monumental trouble. 
Will we continue to trust Him?

God is our help in the midst of trouble
Not a bubble or protected from all trouble
God does promise to meet us in the midst of the trouble.
Sometimes God calms the storm.
Sometimes He calms us in the midst of the storm.
Our trust is in God Who is sure in the midst of trouble.

Martin Luther Quote…my conscience is bound by the Word of God.

Faith in God delivers security
A sense of well-being
Not an absence of trouble.
Security is the ever present presence of God

From Vs 1 – Trouble = a tight spot…painted into a corner
This was a time of great shaking for Israel...a time of upheaval. 
No sense of security…nothing firm beneath your feet.

What are we going to do?
Trust in God
Deuteronomy 33:27
God was their greatest stronghold
Tucked under the shelter of God Himself
Our Shelter, our Safe Tower
Where will my shelter be this coming year?

Quote – Frederick Nolan…where God is, a spider’s web is like a wall.  Where God is not, a wall is like a spider’s web.

Our God is inexhaustible...an able supply of resources. 
A Strong Refuge
Invincible, inexhaustible
He will supply the necessary strength equal to the trial.

God’s help is timely…in the nick of time…2 Kings 19:35
The strength of God that is our help when we need it.
There will be grace when we need it and for what we need it for.
God’s strength is timeless
He is our Help from of old.
His strength has always been present
Psalm 90:1-2 – our Refuge in every generation.
God is immutable…He does not change.
There is help from of old.

God has unlimited resources.  Faith in God provides sufficiency…waters that refresh. 
2 Chronicles 32:30Hezakah redirected the waters to come into the city of Jerusalem.
Rivers of Living Water
Peace, joy, comfort, righteousness
A living well and living water within you…the Holy Spirit
A fount of every blessing…calls for songs of loudest praise.

Story…Amazon River…pushes itself out to sea 90 miles.  Surrounded by salt water, underneath the boat was fresh water…but they didn’t know it.  They were asking for fresh water, but they already had an abundant supply. 

Judgment is the process…peace is the outcome. 
God of the armies of heaven
God will trouble those who are troubling you.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Always Abounding in the Work of the Lord


This and That




No Five Minute Friday to prompt me.  No hustle and bustle of the holidays to distract me and keep me going like the Energizer bunny.

It’s seems this is the first quiet Saturday morn in weeks.  I have time to think and reflect on all that’s gone on in the last few weeks and months.  To quiet my heart and mind and listen to the Lord.

Lessons I’ve had in the past, some of which I’ve failed at miserably, are coming around again.  This time I’m facing those lessons with the Lord Jesus Christ, with my heavenly Father to give me wisdom and the Holy Spirit residing within me.  May I incline my ear to the Lord, listen carefully and follow His leading and guidance as I navigate these waters afresh. 

May I have the mind of Christ and the love of God.  May I be obedient and honor God with all I do, say, think and feel. 

May I stay in close communication with God, not forsake time in prayer and listening to Him through His Word, which is perfect, inerrant and complete.  May I boast in nothing except for Jesus Christ and Him crucified.  May my heart be sensitive to the Holy Spirit when He nudges me or corrects me or convicts me of sin.  Help me to be mindful of my absolute need and dependence upon You Lord and please keep me close. 

As of late, I’ve been feeling empty, spent and depleted with nothing left to give.  Even the simplest task seems like more than I can handle.  I need to be fed and replenished spiritually from God’s Word and through worship and praise of my great God and Savior.  I need the physical rest and sleep so that I’m no operating on empty.  I need to renew my mind through the washing of the Word. 

I can scarcely believe that Christmas has already come and gone.  Not only that…but we are on the edge of a New Year.  I would never have guessed all the changes that happened in 2013, how it’s ending.  What will the new year hold?  Only the Lord knows and I need to stay close to Him each day.  Keep my eyes on Him, not my circumstances, other people and especially not myself. 

Sunday, December 01, 2013

Winner for Priscilla Shirer's book God is Able

I'm pleased to announce that blogger Ceil from Evangelize to Me is the winner of Priscilla Shirer's new book God Is Able.

Ceil please send me an email (susanwalkergirl@gmail.com) with your mailing address and I'll put the book in the mail.

Congratulation Ceil...hope you enjoy the book.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Hide & Seek



There are days when the Lord seems
        Distant and far away
                        Silent
                                His presence veiled

When I recognize that feeling, it causes me to
        Examine myself
                See if there is unconfessed sin
                        Hindering, impacting my relationship

Have I let the noise of this present world
        Drown out God’s still small voice

Am I distracted by
        What I can see and hear
                Ignoring that which is apprehended by faith

Have I put other things
        Ahead of God and His Word
                Set aside the eternal
                        For that which is passing away

Lord, Your Word assures me
        You will never leave nor forsake me
                Never abandon me
                        You are ever present

When I feel You are not near
        May I pursue You diligently
                Seek You while You may be found

By Susan Wachtel
November 30, 2013

Fatal Witness by Patricia Bradley – Interesting Plot, But the Story Got Bogged Down

  I enjoy suspense and mystery novels and was excited to read Patricia Bradley’s newest book Fatal Witness , the second book in the Pearl R...